Start by creating your child’s silhouette. (My silhouettes took many steps in Adobe Photoshop, but I’ll give you instructions for the easy way.) Simply take a photo of your child turned sidewards (preferably in front of a blank wall.) Then enlarge the photo on a copier to the size you want to use. Lay the paper on top of the black cardstock and cut them both at the same time. I prefer to use an X-acto knife for the cutting, but you can use scissors if you like.

Unless you have a graphic program or a template to draw perfect ovals, you will need to draw one freehand. Wait, wait, don’t freak out. You can do this!

First, fold a letter sized paper into fourths.

Draw a curve on the paper with the fold sides inside the curve.

Cut along the line.

Open up your paper to reveal your oval. If you don’t like it, try it again.

Once you are happy with your oval, trace the folded oval onto white cardstock paper and cut it out.

Wrap your present (be sure to use wrapping paper that your child has never seen in your home!)

Spray the back of your cardstock oval with spray mount and adhere it to the present.

I added some glitter spray to the wrapped package to give it a little extra sparkle! (I know, it doesn’t really show up in the photo.)

So, here is a close up of the glittery goodness:

Spray the back of your silhouette head with the spray mount and lay it inside the oval.

Next, add a bead of glitter glue around the edge of the oval. Note of caution: Allow the glue to dry before setting your package upright or it WILL run. Of course I learned the hard way and had to unglue my package from the shelf it was sitting on. Drat!

Here are the presents before I added the “To & From” on them.

You can write your child’s name on the silhouette using chalk, bistro marker or white paint pen. Or leave it blank if you wish, your choice.

That’s it, not too hard, but the results are stunning. You could use this gift wrapping technique for any special present.

I have to share with you a little something that warmed my heart Christmas morning. My oldest carefully cut off the fronts of all the presents that I gave him to preserve the creative gift wrap designs.

He saved them all including his silhouette from Santa.

In stark contrast, my youngest tore into the packages as any other eager four year old boy would.

What a sweet boy! And I love how you made the Santa footprints! I'm definitely stealing this idea for the future. Also, just wanted to let you know that I'm featuring your awesome closet-reading nook on my blog tomorrow:)

I used your bear to make a special gift wrapping for my grandson. It was a huge hit with everyone. Thanks.

On those silhouettes–As a volunteer coordinator, I was just asked to find volunteers to make 25 silhouettes of the residents on one wing of our nursing home by the end of January. I was in a complete panic. Your method, however, should be easy enough. A double thanks for that;-}

Wow, that is such a great idea for gift wrapping! I'll definitely try that next year (post saved in creative file in favourites- check!)! And how sweet of your boy to save the gift wrapping- I love that!

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